• Maryland: FDA has approved a new antibiotic called gepotidacin or Blujepa to treat UTIs. Blujepa, which is manufactured by GSK, is the first new type of oral antibiotic to gain approval to treat UTIs in over 20 years. Blujepa works through a novel mechanism which inhibits bacterial DNA replication. FDA approved Bluejepa to treat uncomplicated UTIs in female patients ages 12 and older. Currently, UTIs lead to around 8 million ED visits and 100,000 hospitalizations in the United States every year. Nearly half of all women will experience a UTI at some point in their lives, and around 30% will have a UTI reoccur after treatment. "The approval of Blujepa is a crucial milestone with [uncomplicated] UTIs among the most common infections in women," said Tony Wood, GSK's chief scientific officer. "We are proud to have developed Blujepa, the first in a new class of oral antibiotics for [uncomplicated] UTIs in nearly three decades, and to bring another option to patients given recurrent infections and rising rates of resistance to existing treatments." (Choi, The Hill,  3/26; Goodman, CNN, 3/25)
• Minnesota: Earlier this month, OptumRx* announced plans to eliminate annual reauthorization requirements for 80 drugs, which would decrease the number of overall pharmacy prior authorizations by more than 10%. Some of the included medications are for cystic fibrosis, asthma, and other chronic diseases. The change will go into effect May 1, and the company plans to expand the list of medications included over time. "These changes mean easier access to medications for consumers, less work for pharmacists and physicians and a simplified system focused on clinical quality," said Patrick Conway, CEO of OptumRx. (Owens, Axios, 3/19; Berryman, Modern Healthcare, 3/19)
• New Jersey: Johnson & Johnson (J&J) will invest in $55 billion in U.S. manufacturing and research over the next four years, a 25% increase from the company's current investment. The increased investment will help construct four new manufacturing facilities, with the first breaking ground in North Carolina. J&J also plans to expand its existing facilities and invest in oncology, neuroscience, immunology, cardiovascular treatments, and robotic surgery. According to Becker's Hospital Review, J&J total impact on the U.S. economy is over $100 billion per year. (Murphy, Becker's Hospital Review, 3/21)

*Advisory Board is a subsidiary of Optum. All Advisory Board research, expert perspectives, and recommendations remain independent.